Internal-combustion engine



Aug. 6, 1929. E. A. DE WATERS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 18, 1924 U7 Z. Y/ or Mw M i w A MW v vw vld H wwmmww wwhH..-...=.. E M M W a w W 0 MW: 9 a L w, a a z 4% w E w M Ill) Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE,

ENOS A. DE WATERS, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COR- PORATION, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed February 18, 1924. Serial No. 693,634.

This invention relates to engines, and is illustrated as embodied in an automobile englue having novel means for inclosing and protecting the valve operating mechanism,

some of the features being especially desirable for use in valve'in-heml engines, in which downwardly-opening valves are operated by nieclianically-actuated rocker arms.

One feature of the invention relates to inclosing such rocker arms in a novel manner by means of a cover detachably secured to the usual detachable cylinder head. In one desirable arrangen'ient, the cover is clamped against the cylinder head, e. g. by means of nuts threaded on members carried by the cylinder head.

Another feature of the invention relates to preventing undesirable oil seepage past any ('(H'Ll or other enclosure for valve-operating mechanism, as, for example, the above-described rocker arm cover, by providing openin gs communicating with the atmosphere and which prevent the building up of any pressure in the space inclosed by the cover.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel combinations and desirable particular constructions, will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a Buick automobile engine embod ving one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the valve mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, corresponding to part. of Fig. 1, showing an arrangement in which one (or both) of the tappet rod covers is provided with a louvered opening; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, showing a screen and bafiie plate protecting the louvered openin In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is embodied in an engine havin g a cylinder block 10, supported on a crankcase 12, in which are arranged a crankshaft 14 and a camshaft 16. The particular engine illustrated'is of the valve-in-head type, and is provided with a detachable cylinder head 18 having seats for downwardly opening valves E20 and having threaded openings receiving the spark plugs 22. The valves are opened by rocker arms 24 against the resistance of double springs 26, the rocker arms being operated by tappet rods 28 having semi-spherical sockets at their upper ends which engage hall heads on members adjustably threaded into the rocker arms, and having heads at their lower ends which carry rollers 30 engaging the cams of shaft 16.

According to the present invention, as many as possible of the exterior parts, preterably including the spark plugs and the valveoperating mechanism, are inclosed and protected to prevent the accumulation of dirt and to guard the moving parts. In one desirable arrangement, the cylinder block 10 is' provided with end and center flanges 32, outlining a pair of substantially rectangular recesses for the tappet rods 28, the upper faces of the recesses being provided by a lower flange 34 on the. cylinder head 18. Covers 36 are provided to complete the. enclosure of tappet rods 28, these covers being clamped (against gaskets if desired) by screws 38 received in studs 40 tapped into the cylinder block 10.

Cylinder head 18 is also provided with an upper flange 42, above the spark plugs 22, and a spark plug cover 44 is clamped against. the flanges 34 and 42, and corresponding end flanges, by wing nuts 46 threaded on studs 48 tapped into the cylinder head. Preterably, in order to guard against the possibility of oil reaching the. spark plugs, the tappet rods pass through bushings 5O bridging the space between flanges 34 and 42. Flanges 34 and 42, and the end flanges, form a substantially continuous annular flange defining a recess containing the spark plugs and closed by the. spark plug cover 44.

The rocker arms 24, and associated parts, are shown as enclosed in a cover 52 secured in place by Wing nuts 54 threaded on studs 56 tapped into the cylindrical head 18. According to one feature of the present invention, the chamber for the valve mechanism, and which includes the communicating recesses under the covers 36, 44, and 52, is in constant communication with the atmosphere, to prevent the building up of any pressure which would tend to force oil out from under the covers. As one simple manner of providing such communication, the cover 52 may be stamped to provide louvered openings 58 directed toward the rear end of the engine. Alternatively, or if desired in addition to these openings, covers 36 may be provided with louvered openings 60 (Figs. 3 and 4:). Preferably, these openings are covered by screens 62 and are guarded against flying oil by bafile plates 64:.

While one embodiment of my invention has been described in detail, it is not my in.- tention to limit its scope to that embodiment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, valves, tappet rods oper ating the valves, and a detachable cover inclosing the tappet rods and provided with a louvered opening, and which has a baffle plate secured thereto inside said opening.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder block having a tappet rod recess open at the top and side,

a cylinder head which has a flange forming the top of the recess, and a cover secured over the recess in engagement with the flange and with the cylinder block.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination. a cylinder block, a cylinder head detachably secured thereto which has a flange projecting at one side, spark plugs threaded through the cylinder head within the flange, and a cover held against the flange to inelose the spark plugs.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, tapped rods, spark plugs, rocker arms, and a cylinder block and cylinder head provided with separate closed spaces for the tappet rods, spark plugs, and rocker arms, together with bushings surrounding the tappet rods and bridging the space for the spark plugs in such a manner as to provide communication-between the space for the tappet rods and the space for the rocker arms.

5. An internal combustion engine provided with the usual cooling fan and comprising a crankcase, cylinders communicating with the crankcase, a valve tappet chambe at one side of the cylinders, a detachable cover for said chamber, overhead valve mechanism operated by said tappets, a detachable cover for said valve mechanism, said engine being provided with passages establishing communication between said crankcase, tappet compartment and valve compartment, one of said covers being provided with openings facing in a direction opposite to that of the tan blast so that the openings are subject to the aspirating action thereof.

6. An internal combustion engine provided with the usual cooling fan and comprising a crankcase, cylinders communicating with the crankcase, a valve tappet chamber at one side of the cylinders, a detachable. cover for said chamber, overhead valve mechanism operated by said tappets, a detachable cover for said valve mechanism, said engine being provided with passages establishing communication between said crankcase, tappet compartment and valve com partment, the cover for said valve mechanism being provided with rearwardly facing louvered openings subject to the aspirating action of the fan blast.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ENOS A. DE WATERS. 

